THE MISSION OF BLAC, INC. IS TO USE THE VEHICLE OF FINE ARTS TO PROVIDE THE TOTAL COMMUNITY OF OKLAHOMA WITH AN EXPOSURE TO THE AFRICAN, AFRICAN-AMERICAN/BLACK CULTURE WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON EDUCATING OKLAHOMA'S YOUTH.

HISTORY of BLAC, INC.

Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC), Incorporated began as an idea of Dr. John Smith who had moved to Oklahoma to accept a job with the Oklahoma Symphony. After the Symphony failed, Dr. Smith accepted a job at Langston University in the Music Department. During that period, he wrestled with the problem of African Americans expressing themselves about their identity. With the support of a friend, Alfred Cohran, Dr. Smith moved forward with the idea of using the arts as a means of self-expression.

Oklahoma City's black community responded spontaneously and collectively to affirm itself in a constructive and creative manner. The organization was incorporated as a non-profit organization on April 28, 1971. BLAC, Inc. began with a music component, a literary component, a visual arts component and, finally a theater component. The arts burst forth in festivals, arts education programs, lectures, poetry readings, theater productions and presenting programs, traveling arts programs, and finally dance programs. The Northeast side of Oklahoma City was alive! News traveled fast and soon BLAC, Inc. was capturing headlines in all of the local papers.

BLAC, Inc. earned a reputation of excellence and commanded respect from the larger Oklahoma City and Oklahoma community. BLAC, Inc. earned the coveted Governor's Arts Award for its theater work and national and international awards it received.

Since the beginning, the organization has always had service to the community as a priority. BLAC, Inc. is known for creating leading edge programs in arts education, in presenting and producing, recognition of legends, preserving African American history in Oklahoma City and in meeting the needs of the community. To this day, BLAC, Inc. continues to receive national recognition for programs of great value to the community.

Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC), Inc. learned today that the well known cultural
organization suffered major damage in a fire reported Sunday at the U-Haul Storage
Facility in Bricktown. Anita Arnold, Executive Director, learned about the fire when she
was called late Monday evening. She was unable to see the storage unit that held two
thirds of a collection that started 45 years ago. BLAC, Inc.'s storage unit was within feet
of where the fire started and was blocked off while a fire investigation was conducted.

Arnold said that many items destroyed or damaged were irreplaceable. The extent of the
damage is still being determined. Most items were historical and others were works of
art. Many were rare or unique. Some of the damaged art included paintings by a famous
artist featured in an award winning movie last year. Other valuables include photos,
exhibits and music from the early days of Deep Deuce.

The organization is known for Deep Deuce and Charlie Christian history as well as many
"firsts" for Oklahoma in the arts and education fields. BLAC, Inc. has presented the
Charlie Christian International Music Festival in Oklahoma City and Lawton for the past
30 years.

Black Liberated Arts Center, Inc., also, brought Arts Integration to Oklahoma when
selected by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as a Partner's in
Education Team with Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKPCS) District in 1995. BLAC,
Inc., the arts partner along with OKCPS, the education partner proved the program in
with Wilson Elementary School as a pilot school. The school has been a high performing
school for the past 16 years and is well known around the country.